The Proclaimer

An Epistle Of Christ

The apostle Paul wrote fourteen epistles that are recorded in the New Testament.  These wonderful letters were written to brethren in an attempt to help them serve the Lord and are preserved in Scripture for our benefit as well.  But Paul speaks of other letters to the Corinthians saying, “Ye are our epistles, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made manifest that you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh” (2 Cor. 3:2, 3).

I’m not sure many of us see ourselves as “an epistle of Christ,” nor do we remember that this letter is “known and read of all men.”  The fact is our life speaks volumes about who we are and the Lord we serve.  We need to understand that our conduct and behavior is influential either to the salvation of men’s souls or to the detriment of the cause of Christ.  People observe us every day, and in so doing, read our epistle.

Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand: and it shineth unto all that are in the house.  Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16).  We shine both individually and collectively.  As individuals our light is to shine “before men” to such extent that God is glorified.  Collectively our city of lights is to be so conspicuous that it cannot be hidden.  Paul says we are to “become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life” (Phil. 2:15, 16).

It is for this reason that Paul exhorts us to “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8).  He explains that in order to do this we must first “prove what is well-pleasing unto the Lord” and then “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (v. 10, 11).  Light exposes darkness and influences it so that it can be changed into light.  So it is even with the epistle of our life.  As people read our epistle they too will be influenced.  They can see “what is well pleasing unto the Lord” and from such observation can learn what God would have them to be.  In essence they see Christ in us.

Is your life truly “an epistle of Christ?”  Is God glorified in your conduct and behavior?  Can Christ truly be seen in you as you live each day?

                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer